Vacuum cleaner converter arrangement



Sept. 20, 1949. P. T. HA HN VACUUM CLEANER CONVERTER ARRANGEMENT 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 20, 1943 INVENTOR.

fiTToFNA-M Sept. 20, 1949. v P. T. HAHN 2,482,337 r VACUUM CLEANER CONVERTER ARRANGEMENT Filed Aug. 20, 1.943 r I 4 Sheets-$heet 2 INVENTOR. FazzZ 2 /74252 TTdH/YEX Sept. 20, 1949. P. T. HAHN Y 5 8 3 VACUUM CLEANER CONVERTER ARRANGEMENT Filed Aug. 20, 1945 I 4 Sheets-$het 5 7 INVENTORN Z T 'cation is notlimited thereto. cleaner may comprise a vertical driving motor,

Patented Sept. 20, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE VACUUM CLEANER CONVERTER ARRANGEMENT Paul T. Hahn, Detroit, Mich., assignor to Eureka Williams Corporation, a corporation of Michigan Application August 20, 1943, Serial No. 499,424

This invention relates to vacuum cleaners and has particular reference to a novel and emcient manner of and means for converting a floor type suction cleaner into one adapted for socalled off the floor. cleaning.

My invention has particular application to that type of floor cleaner sometimes designated as a vertical motor cleaner, although its appli- Such type of floor a fan driven thereby, a floor nozzle having a communication with said fan, a surface cleaning .member such as an agitator operatively assovention selected for purposes of illustration, the

device embodying the invention comprises a con verter readily separable from the suction cleaner but adapted to be connected thereto and including a hollow air conducting coupling member insertable into a port in said communication and having means for shutting off the flow of air from the floor nozzle to the fan, said coupling member also having means .for breaking the driving connection between the motor and the surface cleaning member. At the end which projects from the cleaner the coupling member may have connected thereto one end of a flexible hose, to the other end of which various types of suction cleaning tools may be connected.

In its broadest aspect my invention contemplates the provision of a self-contained converter coupling for a vertical motor type of suction cleaner, and which converter coupling includes a means for shutting ofl the communication between the floor nozzle and the fan of the cleaner, as well as a meansfor breaking the driving connection between the surface cleaning member and the driving motor of the cleaner.

Principal objects of the invention are:

To provide a new and efllcient form of converter for vertical motor type of suction cleaners;

-To provide a suction cleaner and converter construction therefor in which the converter port is provided at the rear of the machine so that the same may be pulled around on the floor when the converter is connected thereto;

To provide a self-contained converter for suction cleaners of the vertical motor type in which the converter is self-contained and includes provisions for shutting oft the COmmuni- 19 Claims. (01. 15-332) cation between the floor nozzle and the fan, as well as for breaking the driving connection between the cleaner motor and the surface cleaning member.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from a consideration of the following specification taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, of which there are four sheets and wherein:

Fig, 1 is an elevational view, with certain parts shown in section and others broken away, of a suction cleaner of the vertical motor type with a converter associated therewith;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view taken in a plane along the'line 22 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows. In this view the converter-coupling is only partly inserted in the cleaner port Fig. 3 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken along the staggered line 33 of Fig.

. 1, and illustrating certain parts of the converter port;

ing the converter coupling fully inserted into the converter port; I

Fig. 7 is a side elevational view of the converter coupling separated from the cleaner;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view illustrating a modified form of the invention;

Fig. 9 is a plan view of the converter arranged in the converter-port of the cleaner, with the parts arranged as illustrated in Fig. 8; and

Fig, 10 is a view similar to Fig. 8 but with the parts arranged in a position in which the driving connection between the cleaner motor and the surface cleaning member has been broken.

As illustrated in Fig. 1, a floor type cleaner of the vertical motor type with which my invention is particularly useful includes a vertical motor 20 forming a driving means for a suction creating means which includes a fan 22 arranged in a fan chamber 24, the fan 22 being secured to the extended shaft of the motor for rotation therewith. The fan chamber is provided with i 3 I to which a dust collecting receptacle (not shown) is adapted to be connected. The cleaner further includes a rotary surface cleaning member or agitator 36 which is rotatably mounted within the mouth 32 of the floor nozzle 64, the mouth being normally positioned slightly above the surface upon which the cleaner is supported for movement by front and rear wheels 66 and 66. An air flow communication 46 connects the nozzle 34 with the fan chamber 24 through the inlet 26 -so that upon operation of the fan, dirt laden air is drawn through the mouth of the nozzle and conducted to the dirt collecting receptacle which is connected to the discharge 26 of the fan chamber. 3

The cleaner is provided with a pivoted handl 42 by means ofwhich the cleaner may be maneuvered over the surface or surface covering which is to be cleaned by the machine. vWhen the cleaner is operated on a surface covering, such as a rug, the suction at the mouth of the nozzle induced by opertion of the fan 22 draws such surface covering up. against themouth 32 of the nozzle where it is acted upon by the brushes of the rotary surface cleaning member 36.

The fan 22, as previously indicated, is secured to the vertical shaft of the motor for rotation therewith and may consist of a series of blades extending in a general radial direction from the hub 44, such hub forming a continuation of the shaft of the motor and extending through the fan eye 26 substantially at the center thereof and in spaced relation with the edges defining such fan eye.' The fan eye 26 as illustrated comprises a. central circular opening on the under side of the fan chamber 24 having its center substantially coinciding with the center of the hub 44.

The hub 44 projects downwardly into the communication 46 at one end thereof and is providedwith a pulley 46 having an endless elastic belt 48 associated therewith so as to be driven thereby. The belt 46 has driving engagement with a pulley 56 suitable formed on the agitator 36 so that normally during operation of the motor 26 the fan 22 and the agitator 36 will ;be driven. The belt 46 is arranged in and extends through the communication 46 between the nozzle 34 and the fan inlet opening 26, the communication 46 at its forward end opening into the back of the nozzle 34. 6

The communication 46, except for the removable section 52 thereof, may be formed integrally with the body of the cleaner which may consist of a casting suitably formed to provide the fan chamber 24, the communication 46, and the nozzle 34. The vertical side wall 54 of the communication 46 is provided with a converter port 166 which is adapted to be closed by a valve 56 (Fig. 5). Valve 56 may consist of a plate, conforming to the shape of the port 56, pivoted to the removable section 62 along the bottom of theport 56 and preferably has a spring associated therewith so as to bias such valve 66 to its position to close the port 66, which it'will do when the To the other end of the hose different types of suction cleaning tools are adapted to be connected, the hose and converter coupling functioning to connect such suction cleaning tools to the intake side of the fan 22 of the cleaner. The other end of the converter has assembled thereto a belt lifter 66 and a valve 66. The converter port 56 of the cleaner is positioned laterally of the pulley 46, and the inserted end 16 of the converter may be rectangular in cross section (conforming to the shape of the port 56) and have its various walls cut away and formedas follows:

The bottom wall 12, except for the head 14 along one edge thereof, is positioned slightly above the bottom wall 66 of the passage 46, and is cut away as indicated so as to clear an upstanding pin 16 (Fig. 2) carried by the bottom wall 66 of the passageway 46. The pin 16 is positioned just forwardly of the pulley 46 and extends upwardly into the passage or communication 46 only a slight distance. v

The side wall 16 of, the converter, which is positioned on the upstream side of the communication 46 relative to the hub 44, isnotched or cut away as indicated at 66 so as to accommodate the strands of the belt 48 asindlcated in Figs.,5 and 6 when the converter is inserted into the cleaner.

The top wall 62 of the converter at the inserted end is cut away for a substantial distance in order not to obstruct the fan opening 26, thereby to provide communication between the inside of the converter coupling 62 and the fan chamber 24 through the inlet 26 thereof.

The left hand wall 84 .is cut back almost the entire width of the passage 46 so as to provide substantially an unrestricted communication between the intake of the fan chamber and the interior of the converter coupling.

The bottom wall 12 has the belt lifter 66 pivoted thereto at 66. The belt lifter 66 includes a generally fiat piece 66 disposed below the wall 12 and the upstanding portion thereof which forms the part-for engagement with the strand of the belt for lifting the same out of driving relationshipwith the pulley 4 6. The part 66 is bifurcated-to provide a slot 66 for cooperation with the pin 16 in order to shift the belt lifter 66 from one position thereof to the other, as hereinafter described. 4

When the inserted end of the converter coupling 62 is inserted through the port 56, such act will swing the port valve 56 to its open. position and the belt lifter 66, includingpart 66 thereof, will be arranged generally as illustrated in Fig. 3. At this time the slot 96 is positioned so as to receivethe pin I6. A spring 62 is associated with the pivot between the belt lifter 66 and alongside the bottom wall 66 of the passageway 46 and in a recess provided therein so as to be out of the path of the converter coupling indicated generally at 62. l

The converter coupling 62 is'illustrated in elevation in Fig. '1 and comprises a hollow air conducting member to the end 64 of which a flexible air conducting hose is adapted to be connected. 75 56 and has been brought up alongside the other the bottom wall 12 of the converter coupling 62 which biases the belt lifter to the position illus-" .trated in Fig. 3 relative to the air conducting Fig. 3 to its fully inserted position (that is, the

one indicated by the dotted lines in Fig; 3 and by the full lines in Fig. 4);, the pin I6 cooperating with the slot 96 will cause the beltlifter 66 to swing in'a counterclockwise direction about its pivot and to the other position thereof. In the position in which the belt lifter is'shown in full,

- lines in Fig. 3, that'partthereof which engages amass? strand of the belt. As the converter coupling 62 is moved from the position illustrated in full lines in Fig. 3 to that illustrated in Fig. 4, co'operation of the pin I6 with the slot 96 will cause the belt lifter 66 to swing in an are about the pulley 46 and to lift the belt 48 out of driving relationship therewith.

Withdrawal of the converter coupling 62 from the port 66 of the cleaner will first restore the belt lifter 66 to the position illustrated in full lines in Fig. 3, thereby reestablishing the driving connection between the belt 48 and the pulley 46.

In Figs. 2 and 5 the position of the valve 68 is illustrated when the converter coupling 62 is positioned as illustrated in full lines in Fig. 3. That is, when the converter is initially inserted in the converter port, the valve 68 is horizontally arranged above the slot 86 and is adapted to pass between the strands of the belt 48 and the fan eye 26. The slot 86, as clearly illustrated, is adapted to accommodate the strands of the belt 48. The valve 68 is fixed to a rod 84 which is slidably and pivotally supported by bearings 96 and 88. In fact, the rod 94, its connection to the valve 68 and bearings 96 and 98 form a hinge which pivotally supports the valve 68 as well as permits relative sliding movement between the valve 68 and the rest of the converter.

A spring I66 coiled around rod 94 is confined by the bearing 88 and the valve 68 for biasing the same to the position illustrated in Fig. '7. The bearing 88 is provided with a spiral groove I62 into which a lateral end I64 of the rod 84 extends so that as the valve 94 is moved relative to the rest of the converter coupling 62, it will swing between its closed and open positions. That is, the valve 68 projects beyond the converter 62 when the same is inserted in the converter port 56 and is adapted to engage the wall of the passage 46 opposite the converter port 56 before the converter 62 is properly seated in the port. After such engagement, the further insertion of the converter 62 into the port 56 will cause the valve 68 and the rod 84 on which it is mounted to remain stationary while the rest of the converter moves into its seated position. During this relative movement between the valve 68 and the converter 62, the spiral groove I62 will act on the end I64 of the rod 94 and move the valve 68 to a closed position, that-is, to a position in which it closes that part of the slot 86 not occupied by the strands of the belt.

The valve 68 is suitably shaped so asto straddle one of the strands of the belt to cooperate with the wall 18 so as to effectively seal the passage 46 against the flow of air from the nozzle 34 to the fan inlet 26. That is, when the converter is positioned in the converter port 56, as illustrated in Fig. 6, the converter has broken the communication between the floor nozzle 34 and the fan, and at the same time the driving connection between the motor 26 and the surface cleaning member 36 has been broken.

As the belt lifter 66 swings through more than 90 in order to disengage the belt 48 from the drive pulley 46, the tension of the belt 48 on the belt lifter 66 will function to hold the converter 62 in the position illustrated in Fig. 4. When the converter 62 is separated from the port 56 the valve 58 will automatically close the same.

The converter port 56 faces one side of the cleaner and access thereto is provided so that the converter 62 may be inserted in the port 56 while the cleaner is supported on the wheels thereof. In this way the cleaner may be converted for off the floor cleaning without turning the same on its side.

In the modification disclosed in Figs. 8, 9 and 10, a converter coupling of the same type is provided although the construction thereof is specifically different, and in addition the converter port of the cleaner faces the rear of the cleaner instead of the side thereof as in the previous modification. As the construction of the cleaner is otherwise generally the same as that illustrated in the preceding embodiment, the same reference characters have been used to indicate the same parts.

In this modification the converter port II6 faces the rear of the cleaner and is arranged below the discharge 28. The port II6 may be defined by the lower wall I I2 of the fan chamber 24, a horizontal extension II4 of the bottom wall of the passageway 46, and extensions I I6 and H8 of the side walls 54 and II! of the communication 46. This port may be rectangular in cross section and is normally closed by a valve I26 similar to the valve 58 and which is adapted when open to lie in a recess formed in the bottom wall II4. A spring (not shown) is adapted to bias the valve I26 to a position to close the converter port.

The converter indicated generally at I22 comprises a hollow air conducting member having a cross section adapted to fit that of the port H6 and includes top wall I24, side walls I26, and bottom wall I28. The top wall I24 is cut out so that the edge at the inserted end thereof conforms to the shape of the fan eye 26 when the converter is in its inserted position, while the side walls I26, at a position substantially opposite the pulley 46 when the converter is in its inserted position, are curved toward each other so as to provide curved wall portions I36 which extend across the passage 46. The curved wall portions are interrupted to provide a slot I32 which is adapted to straddle the pulley 46 and the belt 48 when the converter I22 is inserted in and removed from the cleaner. The bottom wall I28 ends at the wall portions I36 and merges therewith.

A rotary cup-shaped member I32 is pivoted by pin I34 to the bottom wall I28 of the converter. The cup-shaped member on its upper side is provided with a U-shaped bracket I34 which carries a shaft I36 which forms a pivotal support for a belt lifter I38, spring I46 being coiled around shaft I36 and acting on belt lifter I38 so as to bias the same to the position illustrated in Figs. 8 and 9.

The belt lifter I38 includes an upstanding fin ger I39 which is adapted to engage the lowermost strand of the belt 48, as is clearly indicated in Fig. 8, when the cup-shaped member I 32 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction about its pivot I34.

Cable I42 is coiled around the vertical cylindrical wall of the cup-shaped member I32 and extends backwardly and passes over rollers I44 and is coiled around a sleeve I46 which is rotatable on a cylindrical extension I48 of the converter I22. The cable I42 is anchored to the sleeve I46 so that when the sleeve I46 is turned, the cup-shaped member I32 will be correspondingly turned about its pivot. For example, with the parts arranged as illustrated in Fig. 9 when the sleeve I46 is turned in the direction of the arrow, the cup-shaped member will be turned in a counterclockwise direction about its pivot. This will shift the belt lifter I38 so that the finger I39 thereof will engage the lowermost strand of the shaped member I32 will cause the belt lifter I38 to swing about the pulley 45 to the positionillustrated in. Fig. and separate the belt 48 from driving relationship with the pulley. Reversal 10 of the procedure just describedwill restore the belt lifter I38 to the position illustrated in Fig. 9. The cup-shaped member I32 includes avalve member I58 which is'adapted to close that'part of the slot I32 not occupied by the strands of the belt when the parts of the converter are arranged as illustrated in Fig. 10. The valve I 58 will travel in a counterclockwise direction (Fig. 9). along with the belt lifter I38 and the edge of the valve I58 is so shaped as to close that part of the slot I32 not occupied by the strands of the belt so'that the passageway 48 is shut 01! from the intake 25 of the fan. j a

As the cable I42 extends through the lower part of the air conducting portion of the converter I22, it is desirable to have a partition I52 arranged in the converter I22 so as to cover that part of the passageway therein through which cable I42 extends.v The partition may consist of a horizontally extending plate which extends across the inside of the converter just above the cable I42 and cup-shaped member I32. Partition I52 is provided with a circular opening in which thecup-shaped member I32 is rotatable;

Adetent I54 carried bythe converter I22 and said suction creating means in a plane normal to said air inlet and laterally of said shaft: a converter attachment adapted to be fitted in said port and connected with and disconnected from" said cleaner, one of the walls of said converter being formed to provide an opening therethrough, saidconverter. being constructed and arranged so as to form at least part of a conduit for the flow of air from a suction cleaning tool to said port, and. through which conduit and said opening formed in the wall of said converter, at least a pant of said belt, extends when said converter attachment is connected with said port in air conducting relationship therewith, said attachment having means thereon engageable with a part of said belt when said attachment is connected to said port in air conducting relationship therewith, for lifting said belt out of driving relationship with saidshaft member, the inserted end of said converter attachment being relatively flat in cross section and said belt lifting means being mounted on said attachment for movement .in a horizontal plane for cooperation with said horizontally extending belt.

2. In combination with a suction cleaner having a vertically arranged motor including a verticalshaft member and suction creating means driven thereby, afloor nozzle having a surface cleaning member operatively associated therewith, a horizontally extending belt drive between said members for driving said cleaning member, said suction creating means being provided on its under side with an air intake pont through which adapted to engage the flanged end of the discharge 28 may be provided to indicate the in-- serted position of the converter. The belt 48 acting on the belt lifter I38 will eflectively hold the converter in seated position within the cleaner,

The detent I54 may be formed by a spring, the otherend I55 of which is adapted to seat against a shoulder I58 so as to limit the penetration of the converter I22 into the converter port.

When the parts of the converter are restored to the position illustrated in Fig. 9, the converter may be readily separated from the cleaner, after which the valve I28 will automatically close the converter port.

As the cleaner is supported by its wheels when the converter is connected thereto, the cleaner may be pulled about rearwardly by the hose which is connected to the converter when the same is connected to the cleaner.

While the invention has been described with some detail, it is to be understood that the description is for the purpose of illustration] only and is not definitive of the limits'of the inventive idea. The right is reserved to make such changes in the details of construction and arrangement of a parts as will'fall within the purview of the attached claims. v

I claim: 7 1. In combination with a suction cleaner having 'a vertically arranged motor including avertical shaft member and suction creatingmeans driven thereby provided with an air inlet on the driving said cleaning member, said nozzle being,

provided with a converter port arranged said shaft member extends, a. communication between said air intake port and said floor nozzle through which said belt drive extends, said communication being provided with a converter port arranged below said suction creating means in a plane normal to said air intake port and laterally of said shaft: a converter attachment adapted to be connected with and disconnected from said converter port and cleaner, one of the walls of said converter being formed to provide a belt opening therethrough, said converter bev ing at least a part of said belt extends when said converter attachment is connected with said air intake port in air conducting relationship therewith, said attachment having means thereon engageable with a part of said belt when said attachment is connected to said air intake port in air conducting relationship therewith, for lifting said belt out of driving relationship with said shaft member, a valve member pivotally mounted on said converter and movable to a position'to close that part 'of said belt opening not occupied by said belt, when said attachment is connected tosaid air intake port, for breaking the come munication between said air intake port and said floor nozzle, the inserted end of said converter attachment being relatively flat in cross section and said belt lifting means being mounted on said attachment for movement in a horizontal plane for cooperation with said horizontally extending 3. A converter attachment for use with a suction cleaner having a driving motor, suction creating means driven thereby, a horizontal wall of said suction creating means being provided with-an air intake, a nozzle having a substantially unobstructed air flow communicationwith said suction creating means through said air intake, a shaft driven by said motor and extendin through said air intake into said communication, a surface cleaning member associated with said nozzle and a horizontally extending belt forming at least part of a driving connection which is arranged in said communication and which extends between said shaft and said member, said nozzle being provided with a converter port in a plane normal to said air intake and laterally thereof; said converter attachment comprising a hollow air conducting member having a fiat end adapted to be fitted in said converter port in air conducting relationship with said fan air intake and for closing said communication between said nozzle and said suction creating means, the inserted end of said air conducting member being adapted to straddle said driving connection when said member is connected to said port in air conducting relationship therewith, said air conducting member having a part of the walls thereof cut away for receiving said driving connection so as to permit said air conducting member to be connected to said port with said driving connection extending through one of the walls of said air conducting member, .a member carried by said attachment and movable to a position to close that portion of the cutaway part of said walls of said air conducting member not occupied by said driving connection, and a belt lifter carried by said attachment, said belt lifter being mounted for movement in a horizontal plane for engagement with said belt for lifting the same out of driving relationship with said shaft.

4. In a suction cleaner having a motor provided with a vertically arranged shaft, a suction creating means driven thereby and provided with an air intake formed in a horizontally extending wall thereof, a floor nozzle having an agitator operably associated therewith, an air conducting communication between said nozzle and said air intake, said shaft extending through said air intake into said communication, a horizontally extending belt between said shaft and said agitator for driving the latter during operation of said motor, said communication being provided with a converter port formed in a vertically extending wall thereof, a converter attachment comprising a hollow air conducting member having a relatively flat end adapted to be inserted and fitted into said communication through said converter port and to have its inserted end arranged in air conducting relationship with said air intake, the inserted end of said air conducting member being form d so as to accommodate said belt when said member is inserted in said communica- 10 communication between said nozzle and said port, said shaft extending through said port into said communication, a belt drive between said shaft and said agitator for driving the latter during operation of said motor, said communication being provided with a converter port formed in a vertically extending wall thereof, a converter attachment comprising a hollow air conductin member adapted to be inserted into said communication through said converter port and to have its inserted end arranged in air conductin relationship with said air intake port, the inserted end of said air conducting member being formed so as to accommodate said belt when said member is inserted in said communication, said air conducting member having a belt lifter carried by the inserted end thereof, said belt lifter being engageable with said belt and operable for disengaging the same from said shaft when said air conducting member is inserted in said communication, a valve carried by the inserted end of said air conducting member and operable for closing on that part of said communication not occupied by said belt when said inserted end of said converter is arranged in air conducting relationship with said air intake port, and manution, said air conducting member having a, belt lifter carried by the inserted end thereof and arranged for movement in a horizontal plane for cooperation with said horizontally extending belt, said belt lifter being engageable with said belt and operable for disengaging the same from said shaft when said air conducting member is inserted in said communication, and means carried by the inserted end of said air conducting member and operable for closing off that part of said communication not occupied by said belt when said inserted end of said converter is arranged in air conducting relationship with said air intake.

5. In a suction cleaner having a motor provided with a vertically arranged shaft, a suction creating means driven thereby and provided with an air intake port formed in a horizontally extending wall thereof, a floor nozzle having an agitator operable associated therewith, an air conducting ally operable means carried by said converter for operating said belt lifter and valve.

6. In a suction cleaner having a motor provided with a vertically arranged shaft, a suction creating means driven thereby and provided with an air intake port formed in a horizontally extending wall thereof, a floor nozzle having an agitator operably associated therewith, an air conducting communication between said nozzle and said port, said shaft extending through said port into said communication, a belt drive between said shaft and said agitator for driving the latter during operation of said motor, said communication being provided with a converter port formed in a vertically extending wall thereof, a converter attachment comprising a hollow air conducting member adapted to be inserted into said communication through said converter port and to I have its inserted end arranged in air conducting relationship with said air intake port, the inserted end of said air conducting member being formed so as to accommodate said belt and shaft when said member is inserted in said communication, said air conducting member having a belt lifter carried by the inserted end thereof, said belt lifter being' engageable with said belt and operable for disengaging the same from said shaft whensaid air conducting member is inserted in said communication, a valve carried by the inserted end of said air conducting member and operable for closing off that part of said communication not occupied by said belt when said inserted end of said converter is arranged in air conducting relationship with said air intake port, said cleaner and attachment having cooperating means for operating said belt lifter and valve by the insertion of said attachment into said communication.

'7. In a suction cleaner having a motor provided with a vertically arranged shaft, a suction creating means driven thereby and provided with an air intake port formed in a horizontally extending wall thereof, a floor nozzle having an agitator operably associated therewith, an air conducting communication between said nozzle and said port, said shaft extending through said port into said communication, a horizontally extending belt between said shaft and said agitator for driving said agitator during operation of said motor, said communication being provided with a converter port arranged in a plane normal to said air intake port, a converterv attachment comprising a hollow air conducting member adapted to be inserted into said communication through said converter port and to have its inserted end arranged in air conducting relationship with said air intake port, the inserted end of said air conducting member being formed so as to straddle said belt when said member is inserted in said communication, said air conducting member having a belt lifter carried by theinserted end. thereof and arranged for movement for cooperating with said horizontally extending belt for disengaging the same from said shaft when'said air conducting'memher is inserted in said communication, and a valve carried by the inserted end of said air conducting member and operable for closing oil. that part of said communication not occupied by said belt communication, a belt drive between said shaft and said agitator for driving said agitator during operation of said motor, said communication being provided with a converter port arranged in a plane normal to said air intake port, a converter attachment comprising a hollow air conductin member adapted tobe inserted into said communicatlon through said converter port and to have its inserted end arranged in air conducting relationship with said air intake port, the inserted end of said-air conducting member being formed so asto straddle said belt when said member is inserted in said communication, said air conducting member having a belt lifter carried by the inserted end thereof, said belt lifter being engageable with said belt and operable for'disengaging the same from said shaft when said air conducting member is inserted in-said communication, a valve carried by the inserted end of said air conducting member and operable for closing off that part of said communication not occupied by said belt -when said inserted end of said con verter is arranged in air conducting relationship with said air intake port, and cooperating means on said cleaner and attachment operable by the insertionof said attachment through said converter port for automatically operating said belt lifter'and valve when said attachment is inserted in said communication.

9. In a suction cleaner having a motor provided with a vertically arranged shaft, a suction creating means driven thereby and provided with an air intake port formed in a horizontally extend ing wall thereof, a floor nozzle having an agitator operably associated therewith, an air conducting communication between said nozzle and said port,

" said shaft extending through said port into said communication, a horizontally extending belt'between said shaft and said agitatorafor driving v said agitator during operation of said motor, said converter port-and to have its inserted end ar- 7 ranged in air conducting relationship with said; air intake port, the'inserted end of said air conducting member being-formed so as to accommoda'te said belt and shaft when'said member is inserted in said communication, said air conducting member having a belt lifter carried by the inserted end thereof and arranged for movement in a horizontal plane for cooperating with said horizontally extending belt, said belt lif-ter' during insertion of said attachment into said communication being movable in a path so as to clear the strand of the belt on one side of said shaft and so as to be engageable with the strand being operable fordisengaging the same from said shaft when said air conducting member is inseated in said communication, and a valve carried by the inserted end ofsaid air conducting member and operable for closing oil! that part of said communication not occupied by said belt .when said inserted end of said converter is arranged in air conducting relationship with said air intake port, said belt lifter functioning to stretch said belt when disengaging the same from said shaft, the tension of said belt on said belt lifter functioning to hold said converter attachment in op "tion.

10. In' a suction cleaner, a cleaner body havingv a nozzle, suction creating means, a suction air passageway 'therebetween, a port in said body ceiving a converter element, an agitator movably 'mounted in said nomle, power transmitting means in said air passageway for moving said agitator, a converter element insertable through I said port into said'air passageway between said nozzle and said suction creating means, a slotin 40 said converter spanning said power-transmittin means, and valve means on said converterfor closing said slot in said converter and enclosing said power transmitting means when said converter is in position in said passageway, said valve 5 means including means engageable with the cleaner body and operative in response to such engagement to move said valve means to slot closing position during said insertion of said converter into said suction air passageway to thereby seal said nozzle from said suction creatlns" means, said converter having means thereon engageable with a part Of said power transmittin means for breaking the drive to said agitator when said converter is in position in said air pas- 55 sageway. l

3 11. In a suction cleaner, acleaner body having a nozzle, suction creating means, a suction air I passageway therebetween, a port insaid body said port into said air passageway between said, nozzle and said suction creating means, a slot in said'converterspanning said power transmitting means, valve means on said converter for closing said slot in said converter and enclosing said power transmitting means when said converter is in position in said passageway, said valve means including means engageable with the cleaner body and operativefin response to such engagement to move said'valve means to slot closing position during said insertionofsaid converter of said belt on the other side of said shaft and erative-position in said communicaopening into said suction air passageway for resaid nozzle from said suction creating means,

"said converter having power transmitting disenbreak the drive to said agitator during said insertion of said converter into said suction air passageway.

12. In a suction cleaner, a nozzle, 9. fan chamher having a fan eye, a suction a-ir passageway between said nozzle and fan eye, suction creating means in said fan chamber, an agitator movably mounted in said nozzle, power transmitting means in said air passageway for moving said agitator, a port in said passageway adjacent said fan eye for receiving a converter element into said air passageway in register with said fan eye, a converter element insertable through said port into said air passageway in register with said fan eye, a slot in said converter spanning said power transmitting means, and valve means movably mounted on said converter for movement to closed and opened positions with respect to said slot in said converter, said valve means when said converter is in register with said fan eye in said air passageway being in said closed position with respect to said slot and enclosing said power transmitting means to thereby seal said nozzle from said suction creating means, said valve means including means engageable with a part o1 the cleaner and operative in response to such engagement during said insertion of said converter into said suction air passageway into register with said fan eye to move said valve means to its closed position with respect to said slot,

said converter being provided with means thereon engageable with a part of said power transmitting means for breaking the drive to said agitator when said converter is in position in said air passageway.

13. A device according to claim 3 in which said member and said belt lifter are provided with actuating means, engageable with a part of the cleaner and operative in response to such engagement during insertion of said converter into said communication to move said member to its closed position and said belt lifter to lift said belt out of driving relationship with said shaft.

14. A device according to claim 4 in which said valve is provided with actuating means, engageable with a part of the cleaner and operative in response to such engagement during insertion of said converter into said communication to move said valve member to its position for closing that part of the communication not occupied by the belt.

15. A suction cleaner including a body having a floor nozzle, a motor, a suction fan driven by said motor and having an air inlet, an air passageway extending between said nozzle and said fan air inlet, a surface cleaning agitator associated with said nozzle and operable for acting upon a surface covering presented to said nozzle during cleaner operation, belt driving means driven by said motor, a belt in said passageway and forming at least part of a driving connection between said agitator and said belt driving means for driving said agitator during operation of said fan, said air passageway being provided with a converter port and a closure therefor, a converter comprising a hollow air conducting member insertable in said passageway through said port and arranged to obstruct said passage-j way so :as to prevent the flow of air from said nozzle to said fan air inlet, and said converter when arranged in said converter port being in air flow relation with said fan air inlet, a portion of said belt being disposed in the path of movement of a part of said converter during the insertion thereof, said part of said converter, during insertion thereof into said passageway, being engageable with said portion of saidbelt and actuated by the inserting movement of said converter for shifting the belt out of driven relation with said belt driving means so as to break the driving relation between said motor and said agitator, said converter being formed to accommodate said belt when said converter is so arranged in said passageway.

16. A suction cleaner according to claim 15 wherein withdrawal of said converter from said converter port automatically reestablishes the driving relation between said belt and said belt driving means.

17. A suction cleaner including a body having a floor nozzle, a motor, a suction fan driven by said motor and having an air inlet, an air passageway extending between said nozzle and said fan air inlet, a surface cleanin agitator associated with said nozzle and operable for acting upon a surface covering presented to said nozzle during leaner operation, belt driving means driven by said motor, a belt extending through said passageway and arranged in driving relation with said agitator and said belt driving means for driving said agitator during operation of said fan, said air passageway being provided with a converter port and a closure therefor, a converter comprising a, hollow air conducting member insertable in said passageway through said port, the inserted end of said converter being shaped to fit and seat in said passageway so as to prevent the flow of air from said nozzle to said fan air inlet, and said converter when so arranged in said converter port being in air flow relation with said fan air inlet, means for securing said converter when so arranged to said cleaner, a portion of said belt being disposed in the path or movement of a part of said converter during the insertion thereof, said part of said converter during movement of said converter toward its seat in said passageway being engageable with said portion of said belt and operable by the inserting movement of said converter for shifting said belt out of driven relation with said belt driving means so as to break the driving relation between said motor and said agitator.

18. -A suction cleaner including a body havin a floor nozzle, a motor, a suction fan driven by said motor and having an air inlet, an air passageway extending between said nozzle and said fan air inlet, a surface cleaning agitator associated with said nozzle and operable for acting upon a surface covering presented to said nozzle during cleaner operation, belt driving means driven by said motor, a belt extending through said passageway and arranged in driving relation with said agitator and said belt driving means for driving said agitator during operation of said fan, said air passageway being provided with a converter port, converter means adapted to be inserted in and positioned across said passageway and shaped to fit in said passageway so as to prevent the flow of air from said nozzle to said fan air inlet and to establish flow of air into said passageway through said converter port during operation of said fan, a portion of said belt being disposed in the path of movement of a part of said converter during the 15 insertion thereof, said part of said converter means during such inserting movement of said converter means toward such position across said passageway being engageable with said portion of said belt and operable by the inserting movement of said converter for shifting said belt out of driven relation with said belt driving means so as to break the driving relation between said a 16 engagement during sai insertion of said 6onverter into said suction air passaaeway into r sister with said fan eye to move said valve means J to its closed position with respect to said slot, said converter being provided with power transmitting dis engasins means-"engageable with a part of said'power transmitting means and-with said motor and said agitator, and said converter 4 means being formed to accommodate said belt when so positioned.

19.v In a suction cleaner, a nozzle, a tan I her having a fan eye, a suctionair passageway between said nozzle and fan eye. suction creating means in said fan chamber, an agitator movably mounted in said nozzle, Dower transmitting means in said air'passageway for moving said agitator, a port in said passageway adjacent said 1 fan eye for receiving a converter element into said air passagewayin register with said Ian eye,

a converter element insertable through said port into said air passageway in register with said fan eye, a slot in said converter spannim said power transmitting means, and valve means movably mounted on said converter for movement to closed and opened positions with respectto said slot in said converter, said valve means when said 1 converter is in register with said fan eye in said air passageway being in said closed position with' respect to said slot and enclosing said power transmitting means to thereby seal said nozzle from said suction creating means, said valve means including means engageable with a part of the cleaner and operative in response to such air passageway.

, body and operative in response to such engagement to break the drive than agitator during said insertion of. said converter into said suction V 5 PAUL 'r. I 1 REFERENCES cum) I I The .following references are of record in the tile oithispatent:- I v vurran's'rs'ms m'mu'rs Date Number Name 7 1,332,235 Staples Mar. 2, 1920- 1,506,858 Orr Sept; 2, 1924 1,907,644 Fairfax May '9, 1933 2,036,056 Kroenlein. Mar. 31; 1936 2,070,682 Pierce Feb. 16, 1937 2,072,690 I Smellie M11122, .1937 2,080,480 Hoover May 18, 1937 2,140,143 Sellers Dec. 13, 1938 2,340,347 Severance Feb. 1, 1944 2,363,002 Jacquith'et a1 Nov. 21, 1944 2,366,125 Pardee Dec. 20,- 1944 2,450,846 White Oct. 5, 194a 

